POLITICAL-PROVINCIAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 60, 18 October 1864, Page 5

POLITICAL-PROVINCIAL.

The past month has been occupied in preparations for the coming elections for the Provincial Council, which are to take place very shortly. Our politicians maybe roughly divided into two parties — one of which looks to Dr. Menzies, the present Superintendent, as its chief, and the other, which is of opinion that the Province would be much benefitted by placing another ruler in office. It was hoped that Mr. Matthew Holmes, of Seaward Downs, who is a candidate for a seat in the Provincial Council, would have been willing to assume the reins, if chosen by the Council. He has, however, stated his definite intention of not accepting the honor should it be thrust oh him. Mr. Holmes assigns no reason for his refusal, but we believe it is in consequence of inability to devote the necessary time to the duties of the office. The affairs of the Province are in anything but a flourishing condition, nor does it seem probable that any great change for the better will take place for some time to come. The candidates for seats in the Provincial Council have, in their addresses, for the most part confined their attention to the consideration of matters of a purely local character, such as roads, education, our railways, &c. There has been an almost total silence on the subject of finance, which is accountable for by the fact that it is to the General Assembly alone the Provinces can look for assistance in the present emergency. Throughout New Zealand the same depression is felt ; but no settlement has suffered, or ie suffering, so severely as Southland from a want of means to carry on important and necessary public works. It is purely a matter of speculation as to what course the Assembly will pursue, with regard to the finances, or, more properly speaking, want of finances, of the Colony. It has been proposed that the Assembly should authorise the raising of one large loan to be apportioned to the various Provinces, according to the security which each may be in a position to offer ; or, in other words, according to the value of the waste lands in each. Such a loan, with a good rate of interest guaranteed, would be readily negotiated, more especially as soon as the Maori disturbances were brought to a termination. It can after all be merely a question of interest, as the security offered is far before that .given for other loans, which are without difficulty disposed of in the London market. For want of funds the railways and other public} works of Southland are at a standstill,; nor can we foretell hbvr Baoai&ey witt^e again mmt&i Ites

are eight miles only '.completed and—inworking order, and this instalment will be of but comparatively little service j until further extensions are made into the interior, and no assistance is to be looked for from the G-eneral Government till after the meeting of the Assembly. We alluded above to the Southland Education Ordinance. It is acknowledged on all hands to be very oppressive in its operation. Tne assessment is Based on the acreage owned by each settler in the various educational districts, and in some instances it has been so heavy as to absorb a considerable portion of the farmers' earnings. We do not see how this measure can be altered to meet the requirements of a very, young and not wealthy settlement. The Ordinance should be repealed, and a sum set apart for educational purposes from the revenue. The adoption of .this course has been advocated by some of the candidates. The extent of the legitimate power of the Superintendent of this Province has, for a long time, engaged a considerable share of public attention, and the question has been discussed with renewed vehemence now that the approaching elections' give the people of the Province a good opportunity for declaring their opinions. It is commonly thought that the Superintendent should act only by the advice and consent of his Executive Council in matters of Provincial G-overn-ment. During the past three years Dr. Menzies, whilst ostensibly guided by his Executive, has in reality retained almost the whole Executive power in his own hands. To such an extent was this carried, that for some months past no members of the Provincial Council have been willing to act with him in the capacity of advisers, as the power in all cases lay with him, whilst the blame too often rested on their shoulders. The Superintendent's term of office having all but expired, he defends his past action, denying in toto the charges brought against him, and makes large promises that he will govern constitutionally in the future. Had Mr. Holmes consented to stand for -the Superintendency, Dr. Menzies would have had no chance against his more popular rival, but that gentleman having declined the honor, it is hard to say on whom the mantle will fall.